Dry-sealing envelope and the packing of same



Feb. 13, 1940; v. E. HEYWOOD DRYSEALING ENVELOPE AND THE PACKING OF SAME Filed Oct. 29/1955 Pat nted Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES par-same um m ENVELO PACKING F SAME Vincent E. Heywood, Worcester, Mala, lllignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Man... a corporation of Maine Application October :0. ms, Serial No. 41.2 a cum. (cum-w The present invention relates to dry-sealing envelopes or containers, i. e., envelopes that are adapted to be sealed by bringing areas coated with a dtry-sealing adhesive into non-moistened con-v Dry-sealing envelopes, as heretofore constructed, have been characterized by the application of dry-sealing adhesive to different correspondingly shaped areas, and in order to prevent l0 premature contact of such adhesive coated areas prior to the loading and sealing of the envelopes, it has been necessary .to provide either separate interleaves, extra flaps, or to perform special folding operations, with resulting increase of menu'- li facturing costs. Furthermore, the utilization of the above noted expedients for preventing premature sealing necessitates unaccustomed manipulations of such envelopes'by their users, in order to finally bring the adhesive coated areas into 80 contact for sealing.

According to the present invention, there is pro-' vided an improved dry-sealing envelope or cont er particularlycharacterized by the fact that it can be made by standard envelope machinery without special operations, the dry-sealing adhesive areas being normally maintained out of premature contact by imparting a body fold to the completed envelope, which disposes a portion of the body itself between the adhesive coated areas. so The envelope of the present invention is especially .well adapted for use as a merchandise container in stores, since the body fold readily opens up when loading the envelope to permit sealing upon pressing down the sealing flap in the usual man- 3 ner. Furthermore, the provision of the body fold greatly facilitates packing of envelopesembodying the invention, due to the reduction of the size of the envelope when folded, thereby making it possible to market the envelopes in boxes of a size convenient for counter use. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the fa description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- 5 Fig. 1 is a rear view of an envelope embodying the invention. J

Fig. 2 shows the envelope of Fig. 1 with a body fold for packing.

' Fig.3 is a perspective view of an envelope ready to be packed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of packing a number of envelopes embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a loaded and a sealed envelope. 5'

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the difl'erent figures.

Referring to Fig.1, the invention is shown for purposes of illustration as being embodied in an envelope of the open-end time. with a body con- 5 siderably longer than the width of the envelope. The envelope comprises front and rear walls I and 2, with a sealing flap 3 extending from the front wall I. The envelope of Fig. 1 is adapted to be made by standard envelope machinery, and 10 in the formation of the envelope the flap I and the rear wall 2 are provided with correspondingly shaped areas of adhesive 4 and I that are symmetrically disposed with reference to the fold line 6 between the sealing flap} and front wall i. The 15 adhesive 4 and I is of such character that it will adhere to itself upon non-moistened contact. although it will not adhere to the material of the envelope. Preferably. the adhesive is applied in the form of a dispersed rubber solution, or as natural or compounded latex, the invention also contemplating the use of other similar dry-sealing adhesives in the .form of thermoplastlcs such as arclor resins or gaiyptols. either alone or in combination. ll

After the completion of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 1, the body is folded midway of its length along the line I, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to completely cover the adhesive I on the rear wall 2. The sealing flap I is then folded downnpon the to previously folded body portion 20, without any possibility of the opposed dry-sealing adhesive areas coming into contact and with both adhesive areas covered, as shown in Fig. 3. The envelope isthenreadytobepackedinabox8.asshown as in Fig. 4, from which it is evident that the depth of the box need only be one half the length of the body of an unfolded envelope.

When it is desired to use an envelope, it is withdrawn from the box 8, as shown in Fig. 4, o the envelope readily opening up, due to the tendency of the folded body and flap portions to spring apart. The envelope then appears, as shown in Fig. 1, and after loading it may be quickly sealed by folding over the flap 3 and pressing the drya sealing adhesive areas 4 and 5 into close nonmoistened contact, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided an improved dry-sealing. envelope or container, characterized go by the provision of a single body fold in the completed envelope, which serves to dispose a portion of the body itself between the areas of dryseallng adhesive to maintain them out of premature contact. Such envelopes can be readily packed in a box having a depth of only one half the length of an unfolded envelope body, thereby adapting the envelopes for counter use in stores where space is limited. Furthermore, the bodyfolded envelopes can be handled on the counter a flap and wall on opposite sides of a fold line coated with a dry-sealing adhesive, the body of the envelope being additionally folded midway of said wall to cover the adhesive thereon with an uncoated body portion preparatory to folding over said flap for packing the envelope, with said drysealing adhesive areas in overlying relation.

3. An envelope having corresponding areas of a flap and wall on opposite-sides of a fold line coated with a dry-sealing adhesive, the envelope being additionally folded transversely of said wall and parallel to said flap fold line to cover the drysealing adhesive on said wall with an uncoated wall portion, and to prevent contact between said adhesive areas when said flap is folded over for packing the envelope.

VDIOENT E. HEYWOOD. 

